Testing device for lead bends or the like



May 16, 1933. Q, CARRAHER 1,909,251

TESTING DEVICE FOR LEAD BENDS OR THE LIKE Filed May 13, 1951 7: l Fl .5.

. INVENTOR WITNESSES I O J ca;-,,-

Patented May 16, 1933 were s'rafr OW'EN' J. GARRAI-IEB, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK TESTING DEVICE FOR LEAD 'BENDS OR THE LIKE Application filed May 13,

This invention relates to a closure device for pipes, especially those which are formed of lead or a similar malleable material and said malleable or pliant metal or said closure finds its principal application to the lead bends of plumbing systems, where it is found desirable to seal the ends for the purpose of testing the same.

The general practice as now followed consists in soldering a lead disk to the end of the lead bends of a plumbing system while testing the system, which practice is open to many objections, notably, the time, labor and expense incident thereto, in addition to the difficulty of providing watertight means for filling the system while making the test.

The present invention aims to provide a simple, inexpensive and effective closure device of the indicated character which may be emplaced and removed with the greatest facility and dispatch and which when associated with the lead bend or pipe, insures a positive seal while afiording a means for introducing water therethrough to the system for making the test.

With the above recited and other objects in View, reference is had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which there is exhibited one example or embodiment of the invention, while the claim defines the actual scope of the same.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view of the waste pipe of a plumbing system illustrating several lead bends sealed by means of the closure devices constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the manner in which water is supplied through one of the devices to test the system.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged ver tical sectional view through one of the closure devices equipped with means for introducing water therethrough.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, A designates a waste pipe having interposed therein the usual TY connections B and C from which the lead bends D and E extend.

The closure devices constituting the subject matter of the present invention essentially 1931. Serial No. 537,147.

consist of an annulus or ring5 and a plug element 6, the former being adapted to be positioned over the exterior of the upper end of the lead bend or end of an equivalent pipe to be sealed and the latter being adapted to be inserted within the same. The annulus has a minor internal diameter approximating the external diameter of the pipe or lead bend and which flares outwardly. The plug element has an outer tapered periphery which is of lesser diameter at one end than the lead bend or pipe E in which it is fitted and of greater diameter at its opposite end. The annulus or ring 5 and plug 6 when applied, cooperate with the internal and external peripheries of the pipe end to effectually seal the same by the gripping and intimate contact of the pipe end therebetween. The plug 6 may be, and preferably is, of the hollow bell shaped construction illustrated, and the closed end is formed with an axially extending, preferably threaded, opening 7 which receives either a stopper 8 or a pipe 9. The pipe 9 may have attached thereto a valve 10 as illustrated, by virtue of which a connection is established with the water service system to fill the plumbing system for conducting a test. As illustrated in the drawing, the upper plug is provided with a stopper and the lower plug with the valve supply pipe by virtue of which water is admitted to the system for testing the same. In use, the ring 5 is first slipped over the end of the pipe or lead bend and the plug 6 is then inserted within the pipe end to wedge its outer periphery against the inner periphery of the pipe. This sufliciently establishes an effective seal, due to the pliant nature of the lead pipe. The removal of the device is readily accomplished by withdrawing the plug and either hammering or otherwise contracting the flared end of the pipe C to permit of the removal of the ring or where the length of the lead bend or pipe is sui ficient, by sawing the pipe. below the ring. 7

From the foregoing, it will thus be seen that a closure device of the indicated character has been devised, by virtue of which a closing and sealing of the ends of lead pipes or the like maybe expeditiously accomplished and the end sealing thereof as readily obtained.

What is claimed is: A testing device for lead bends or the like 5 including a plug element having a slightly inwardly tapering external periphery adapted to be wedged into the end of the pipe just sufliciently to obtain a fluid tight fit and retained in place only by friction and an annular element positioned over the pipe and functioning to obtain said fluid tight fit by preventin undue spreading of the pipe end.

OWEN J. CARRAHER. 

